Officials with Florence School District One tell NewsChannel 15 they plan to have students in four new schools by 2014.
According to Lionel Brown the district assistant superintendent of administrative services, they will build three elementary schools and a middle school.
He says construction is already underway on what they're calling the relief school which will help with overcrowding at Carver and Delmae Heights elementary schools.
Brown says they will build new schools to replace Moore Intermediate, North Vista Elementary and Royal Elementary.
North Vista was built in 1954 and is nearly 60 years old.
Maretha Downs, 62, was a student here not long after the school opened. She says she enjoyed her time at the school. Downs is on the North Vista steering committee and rallied for school board members . She says she enjoyed her time at the school. Downs is on the North Vista steering committee and rallied for school board members to approve a new school.
"This school is almost 60 years old. I attended this school. Guess what? I'm over 60, so it's about time, " said Downs.
Downs says the board couldn't get around building a new school. She says the ceilings are damaged, some floors are cracked, tile on the wall has crumbled, and those are just some of the problems.
Many students say they'll feel better in a new school.
"I want a new school because if you notice on the other hall it's torn. Termites bit it and ate through the whole side of the wall ," said fourth grader Thomas Pipkins.
School officials say the library is outdated and the building isn't equipped for modern technology. They've had to place wires all over the school just to get computers in place.
Downs says when the new school is finished in 2013, it will make a difference with students.
"They comprehend better when the environment is conducive to their learning," said Downs.
Now that the board has approved the new school, the next matter is deciding where it will be built. Many people in the community want the new North Vista to be built in North Florence where it's been for the last 57 years.
"The school is the community. when you remove a school from the community. the community goes down," said Downs.
The new North Vista school is estimated to cost around $17 million and should be ready for students in 2013. However, before construction begins this summer, school officials have to meet to develop a design plan for the architect.
